Violent Crimes and Firearms – Top Focus of Orange County’s Prosecutors

August 11, 2022 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Violent Crimes Social Share

Roger B. Handberg was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Florida six months ago, making him the chief federal law enforcement officer in 35 counties across the state. In a recent press release, Handberg addressed that the top priority of his office is to focus on the reduction and prosecution of violent crimes in Florida.

Handberg stated that his office is set to work directly with local, state, and federal law enforcement officers to work on identifying individuals who are causing violent crimes in the area.

Part of the strategy that Handberg’s office is working towards does not just include police investigations and prosecution. In addition, Handberg wants to promote trust and legitimacy in the community. Another focus is the support of community-based organizations that can help to prevent violent crimes from occurring.

One of the organizations is the Department of Justice’s Project “Safe Neighborhood (PSN).” The violent crime strategy in this department includes community engagement, prevention, and intervention. Programming includews police training, local school presentations, and participation in re-entry programs for returning citizens in the hopes of reducing or avoiding recidivism.

 What this means for citizens of Orange County is that authorities are working to cut down on violent crime in the area. Getting accused of a violent crime can lead to extremely harsh consequences in Florida. The best way to guarantee a strong defense to a violent criminal charge is to work with a skilled violent crimes defense attorney in your area.

What are Violent Crimes?

Generally speaking, a violent crime is one which involves a threat, use of force, or some form of physical force between the defendant and a victim. It is against the law to threaten (with an imminent ability to carry out the threat and threatening conduct) or use physical force against another person. The following are common violent crimes that can result in criminal charges in Florida:

• Misdemeanor Assault
• Aggravated Assault
• Battery
• Aggravated Battery
• Robbery
• Manslaughter
• Murder / Homicide

In addition, there are types of domestic crimes that can be considered crimes of violence. This includes domestic violence charges such as any battery, assault, stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any other offense that would result in the serious physical injury or death of a family or household member.

The penalties for violent crimes vary depending on the severity of the offense. A criminal conviction for a violent crime can lead to fines, probation, court ordered counseling, attending programs for violence or abuse, community service, and incarceration.

The following is a list of penalties based on differing criminal charges:

• Second-degree misdemeanor – Up to a $500 fine and/or 60 days in jail
• First-degree misdemeanor – Up to a $1,000 fine and/or one year in jail
• Third-degree felony – Up to a $5,000 fine and/or five years in prison
• Second-degree felony – Up to a $10,000 fine and/or 15 years in prison
• First-degree felony – Up to a $10,000 fine and/or 30 years or life in prison
• Life felony – Up to a $15,000 fine and up to life imprisonment
• Capital felony – Life in prison without parole or the death penalty

To read about the potential defenses for violent crimes, or to find resources in Florida, find our informative page here.

Violent Crimes Statistics in Florida

Dating back to 2007, Orange County used to be one of the four counties in Florida with a rate of violent crime that was over one per 100,000 people. The number of prosecutors was increased to help handle violent crimes in the state.

This led to three times the number of defendants who were federally prosecuted the following year. Over the next two years there were more than 70 defendants who were prosecuted in Orange County.

According to the National Network for Safer Communities, less than 0.5% of a city’s population is made up of violent groups. However, 60-70% of that percentage is involved in violent crimes including shootings and murder.

In 2019, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported the number of violent crime for that year. The following data was reported:

• 91 Murder Reports
• 718 Rape Reports
• 1,789 Robbery Reports
• 5,180 Aggravated Assault Reports

The total index of violent crime was reported at 7,778, and the violent crime rate per 100,000 population was 561.2.

Finding a Defense Attorney in Tallahassee, Florida

Getting accused of a violent crime in Florida is very serious. Along with paying fines and potentially ending up in jail or prison, there is also the lasting stigma of a criminal record for a violent crime. This mark can make it difficult to find a career, find a place to live, or keep lasting relationships with friends and family. If you or a loved one is accused of any violent crime, your first step should be contacting a skilled Florida criminal defense attorney in your area. Don Pumphrey and his team at Pumphrey Law Firm have experience representing individuals all across the state for various criminal charges. We will work with you to build a strong defense to your case and stand by your side throughout the entire legal process. For a free consultation call (850) 681-7777 or leave an online message today.

Written by Karissa Key

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